Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-04-19

dealing, while the criminal remedy
given in section 10 obviously
pertains 10 international violators OF
the law, and is in these cases to be
graduated by the court according to
the enormity Of the offence. The good
faith exhibited in an honest effort to
carry out the requirements OF the law
will involve reasonable and flir-minded
officials in DO danger of damages or
fines. The elasticity OF the statute in
their favor is noticeable. The unjust
discrimination of section 2 must be, in
like and contemporaneous service, in
transportation of like kind Of traffic,
under substantially similar circuln-
stances and conditions.
The preference or advantage OF sec
tons must be undue or unreasonable.
Throughout the act as it now stands,
in contessedly experimental form,
there is exhibited an obvious
and generous purpose to allow to cor
porations ample scope in the conduct
of their business as common carriers
for the people and fair consideration OF
every reasonable claim, while insisting
upon the Just, impartial, open, and con-
sistent rates of charge to which every
citizen shall be subject alike whose
situation is the same. Surely the peo-
pie could not ask for less.
The language and tenor of the act
wholly fail to Justify railroad managers,
if any such there be, to refuse to ac-
cept the responsibilities, decline to
offer rates, neglect to announce the
condition Of traffic, embarrass the Gus
tomary interchange of business, and
impose stagnation upon trade, while
they "stick in the bark of the phrases
and expressions OF the law, inyenting
doubts and imaginary dangers. 1t is
still more unjustifiable for railroad
companies to make use Of the general
clauses Of the law, ignoring its modify
ing and enlarging words and formulas
in order to impose additional burdens
upon localities, trades, professions,
manufacturers, consumers, classes OF
travellers or employees straining and
REFRESHING every construction in favor
Of the corporate treasury and quoting
the new law as their authority for all
manner of petty exactions. The powers
CT the commission are entirely adequate
to cope with such conduct, the exist
ence of which is not affirmed,
although it has been somewhat
publicly suggested. The same stat
ute which enacts that charges
for like service shall be uniform to all
also provides that charges in every case
and for every kind and class Of ser
vice shall be reasonable and just. As
the law is practically applied it is seen
to contain many elements OF advantage
to economical and profitable manage
ment Of the business of carriers, which
they have not been slow to appre-
bend and take the benefit of.
The commission ventures to express
the hope that with this explanation
respecting the mutual functions of car
riers and the commissioners in carry
ing the law into effect according to its
tue intent and meaning, there will be
no lack Of good faith and active coop
Grafton in continuing the normal actiyi-
ty Of every kind of reputable industry
and traffic throughout the land under
favorable, fair. and reasonable terms,
conceding frankly TO the people all the
rights, benefits, advantages, and equal
privileges which the "act to regulate
commerce was intended to secure.